Rail flange lubricator



4 Sheets-Sheet l July 14, 1936. c. STERN ET Al.

RAIL FLANGE LUBRICATOR Filed May 29, 1931 .lull/'14, 1930. c 'STERN ET AL 2,047,600

RAIL FLANGE LUBR I CATOR Filed May 29, 1931 4 sheets-sheet 3 gwoewtow july ll, @936 Q STERN ET AL 2,047,600

RAIL FLANGE LUBRICATOR Filed May 29, 1931 4 sheets-sheet 4 PatentedV July 14, 1936 UNITED stares PATENT OFFIQE.

RAIL FLANGE LUBRICATOR ration of `New Jersey Application May 29, 1931, Serial No. 5415058 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to lubricating apparatus, and has for an object to lubricate rails, particularly around curves, and also lubrioate car wheel flanges; preventing wear and cutting of the rails and wheel flanges around the curves. Y

Another object of this invention is tofprovide a combined rail and wheel ange lubricator which is automatic in action by passage of the wheels of rolling stock over the portion of the rail to which the lubricator is applied, and to provide a device which may be disposed close to the rail and partly embedded in the road bed so as to be out of the way, but sufliciently exposed for relling with grease and for any necessary adjustment or repair.

The invention further aims at the provision of an improved type of depressible spring shoe for Contact with the wheels of rolling stock which is mounted in a novel manner and connected to the mechanism for intermittently feeding a grease lubricant to the rail and wheel flanges, at such times only as the wheels are actually passing over the Vlubricator so that the feeding of the lubricant may be proportioned automatically to the use of the particular section of the rail.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved feeding and distributing means for a grease lubricant to deposit the grease in small quantities along `the inner side of the rail head so that the flanges of wheels passing over the rail head will engage, pick up and carry the grease along the side of the rail head for a considerable distance, and owing to the different sizes and diameters of the wheels and flanges the grease will be spread in substantially a continuous line along the side of the rail head near the upper surface or tread of the latter and thus properly lubricate the side of the rail head for long distances.

The invention also Vembodies certain novel structural features admitting the quick and easy return of a feeding piston to initial position so that the supply tank or reservoir may be easily filled.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a top plan vie-W, partlyin section, of a rail and wheel ange lubricator constructed according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary outer side elevation of the lubricating device as applied to a rail, the supply tank being removed and the wheel. of rolling stock being shown in position about to engage the device.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary View similar to Fig. 2 but showing the wheel in engagement with the actuating spring shoe in the position of depressing the latter.

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken through a rail and the adjacent parts of the lubricator applied thereto.

Figure 5 is a detail end elevation of the tank or reservoir for the lubricant, showing a slight modication in the same, wherein the cover plate is disposed on the en-d of the tank.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the same. y

Figure 7 is a detailenlarged fragmentary section on the line .'I-'I of Fig. 4 through the Worm locking and releasing device.

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8--8 of Fig. l, showing the support and brake for the operating shaft. Y

Figure 9 is a vertical section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 4, showing the distributing plate in position, and

Figure 10 is a detail inner face view of the distributing plate.

Referring now to the drawings, the lubricating device is adapted for application to a rail having a base III and a web II supporting a head I2. A wheel I3 of rolling stock is adapted to traverse the head I2 and is provided with the usual ilange I4 at its inner side for engaging the head I2 of the rail to maintain the rolling stock thereon.

The lubricating device comprises a pair of side plates I5 and I6 adapted to be disposed against the opposite sides of the rail web II and which are adapted to be secured thereto by bolts I 1, or the like, which pass through the web II and are provided with the usual nuts for clamping the bolts I1 against the plates I5 and I6 when the same are adjusted to the rail.

The plate I6 comprises a feed plate and is provided in its outer side with a depression or chamber I8 over which is fitted a plate forming a distributing feed plate I9, the latter closing the outer side of the plate It and completing the formation of the lubricant chamber therein. The distributing plate I9 is of greater width than the adjacent portion of the plate I6 and extends upwardly beyond the same into overlap:- ping engagement against the inner side of the rail head I2, as shown in Fig. 4. The distributing plate I9, as shown in Fig. 10, has feed grooves 20 at its inner side which extend from the chamber I8 to and through the upper edge of the plate I9 so that the lubricant under pressure may be forced upwardly in the feed grooves 20 over the side of the head I2 and to the throat and base of the flange I4 of the wheel I3 when the latter passes thereover. The distributing plate I9 is also provided at its upper edge with supply openings or recesses 2l which open from the upper ends of the grooves 29 and through which the lubricant passes so that the lubricant may be picked up by the wheel flanges I4 from the outer side of the plate I9.

A cover or cap plate 22 is secured, by screws 23, or the like, to the feed plate I6 over the chamber I8 and the distributing plate I9 to secure the latter in position. A supply pipe 24 for lubricant is threaded through the cap plate 22 at a point opposite the chamber I8, and the plate I9 is apertured in register with the pipe 24 so that lubricant may freely pass to the inner side of the distributing plate I9 and to the chamber I8.

It is essential that the upper edge portion of the distributing plate I9 lie substantially flat or in parallel relation to the inner side of the rail head I2. To accomplish this the feed plate I6 is provided with adjusting screws 25 or other means adapted to cant the feed plate I6 to the desired extent for holding the distributing plate I9 at the required angle. The screws 25 are threaded through the lower portion of the feed plate I6 and bear against the adjacent side of the rail web I I. By turning the screws inwardly through the plate I6, the lower portion of the plate is thus swung outwardly from the web as clearly shown in Figure 4.

The supply pipe 24 may be of any suitable construction and preferably includes a metallic connecting portion for the cap plate 22 and from which leads a pipe 26 which may be flexible or rigid, and which extends downwardly and across the rail below the base I thereof, and is connected to the outer head or end of a supply tank or reservoir 21. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the tank 21 may be mounted in the road bed with the axis of the tank horizontal. In this instance, the forward end portion of the tank is provided on its upper side with a removable cover plate 28 held by cap screws, or the like, and which when removed admits of the quick and easy filling of the tank 21 with a lubricant.

The removable cover plate 28 fits over a correspondingly formed opening in the upper side of the tank 21, and the plate 28 is preferably of pyramidal shape and converges upwardly or outwardly to a relatively small area through which the pipe or hose 26 is tapped. This is for the purpose of concentrating and directing the stream of grease lubricant in a compact manner for entry into the pipe 26. It also drives out any air which may be trapped in the grease body.

It may be desired at times to dispose the supply tank 21 in a. vertical position, but when in such position, as indicated in Figs. and 6, the forward or upper end of the tank is provided with a removable cover plate 29 which when removed admits of the quick and easy filling of the tank.

'I'he cover plate 29 is also of upwardly or outwardly converging or pyramidal form so as to gradually converge the grease stream into the pipe 26.

The automatic means for feeding the lubricant from the tank 21 to the distributing feed plate I9 comprises the following construction:

As shown in Fig. 1, the tank 21 is closed at opposite ends and is provided with an axially disposed feed screw 30 upon which is mounted a piston or follower 3l adapted to traverse the interior of the tank 21. The feed screw 30 is threaded throughout a considerable portion of its length. The threads on the feed screw are discontinued near the forward end of the tank so that even though the feed screw be subsequently operated with the follower 3I moved forwardly to the full desired extent, the follower will remain stationary until the feed screw is reversed in movement. The feed screw 39 carries upon its forward unthreaded end a coil spring 32 which is seated at its outer end against the head of the tank 21 and which at its inner end is adapted to engage the follower 3I so as to yieldingly hold the follower against the forward end of the threaded portion of the feed screw 3D.

The follower 3| is maintained against rotation in the tank 21 by one or more guide rods 33 which are secured lengthwise in the tank 21 at opposite sides of the feed screw 30.

The forward end of the feed screw 38 is reduced with a tapering seat to engage in a correspondingly formed seat in the head of the tank 21, and extends through the head of the tank 21 and is provided with a crank handle 34 by means of which the feed screw 30 may be manually turned, and which is also provided on its forward end and outwardly of the tank 21 with a worm wheel 35 which meshes with a worm 36 carried on a shaft 31 journaled in a bracket 38, pivoted to the front end of the tank 21. The bracket 38 is mounted upon a pivot bolt 39 engaging through one end of the bracket 38 and a spring 49 may be interposed between the head of the bolt 39 and the adjacent end of the bracket 38 for yieldingly holding the latter on the tank. The other end of the bracket 38 is reduced and rounded to provide a lug 4I which lies close to the adjacent end of the tank 21. A hand lever 42 is mounted upon a pivot pin 43 in position to engage the outer side of the lug 4I and with the pivot pin 43 extending through a slot 44 formed in the under side or the lower edge of the lug 4I as shown in Fig. 5. The hand lever 42 has at its inner side a projecting shoulder 45 adapted to overlie the upper edge of the lug 4I and which is preferably curved, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, to ride over the curved outer end of the lug 4I and force the latter with its bracket 38 downwardly to bring the worm 36 into engagement with the worm wheel 35. 'I'he hand lever 42 may be locked or secured in raised position by a removable pin 46 which engages through registering openings formed in the lever 42 and the lug 4I.

The lever 42 may project below the pivot pin 43 and carries an inwardly extending lifting pin 41 arranged to engage the lower edge portion of the lug 4I as the hand lever 42 is swung outwardly and downwardly so that not only is the lug 4I released from the shoulder 45, but the lifting pin 41 swings the bracket 38 upwardly on its pivot 39 so as to move the worm 36 out of engagement with the worm wheel 35, so that the follower 3I may be moved back in the tank for filling purposes.

The shaft 31 extends inwardly from the bracket 38 beyond the pivot bolt 39 and is provided with flexible or universal sections 48 connecting the shaft 31 to an operating shaft 49. A suitable slip joint connection 48 is disposed between the universal sections 48 and may comprise a hollow sleeve with set screws slidably and adjustably receiving therein the complemental shaft portions of the universal sections 48. The

Vshaft 49 is located adjacent the rail and is mounted in right angular relation with respect to the web II of the rail in a bearing portion cornprising part of the plate I5.

The plate I5 has a cylindrical bearing portion 52 which surrounds the shaft 49 and which has an exterior cylindrical contour providing an outer bearing surface upon which is mounted for rocking or reciprocation a drum 53. The drum 53 is provided at diametrically opposite points with ears 54 and 55. The ear 54 is pivoted to a link 56 which extends upwardly to a bracket 51 which is riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the under side of a spring shoe 58 which is of leaf construction and which is pivotally supported at one end upon a pivot pin 59 projecting from the outer side of the plate I5 in spaced relation to the drum 53 and its supporting bearing 52. The

spring shoe 58 is bowed upwardly and lies in closely spaced apart relation from the side of the head I2 of the rail and in its normal position of rest lies with its upper surface in a hori zontal plane above that of the tread of the rail so that the tread of the wheel I3 may engage and depress the spring as the wheel passes thereover.

The other end of the spring 58 is pivotally supported upon a shackle link'I which extends upwardly at the outer side of the plate I5 toward the opposite end thereof, the spring shoe 58 being relatively long so as to effect the desired movement with a minimum of flexure of the spring. The spring shoe 58, being anchored at one end on the pivot 59, when engaged by the wheel I3 not only is depressed, but also moves forwardly in a lengthwise direction to absorb shock inci- 'dent to the impact of the wheel I3 and thus removes all hammer action on the parts of the device. The bracket 5l is secured substantially intermediate the ends of the spring 58 and in substantially vertical alinement with the ear 54 so that as the wheel I3 passes over the spring shoe 58, the ear 54 is swung downwardly and turns the rocking drum 53 from the position shown in Fig, 2 to that shown in Fig. 3.

Within the opposite sides of the drum 53 are pivotally mounted a pair of dogs or ratchets 6I and the ratchets 6I are normally urged to swing inwardly toward the central axis of the drum by the springs 62. The shaft 49 has keyed to it a ratchet wheel 63 which is disposed in register with the ratchets 6I and adapted to be engaged thereby when the drum 53 is rocked in one direction so as to carry the shaft 49 therewith. The ratchets 6I release the ratchet wheel 63 when the *drum 53 returns to its normal position of rest under the tension of the spring shoe 58.

The normal raised position of the spring shoe 58 may be regulated to some degree by means of a set screw 64 which is threaded upwardly through an ear or projection 65 on the outer side of the plate I5 below the radial ear 55 of the rocking drum 53. The screw 64 is provided with a lock nut, or the like, for holding it in adjusted position and is adapted to be turned up through the lug 65 for engagement with the lower shoulder or edge of the ear to allow downward swinging movement of the ear 55 when the spring shoe 58 has flexed upwardly to the desired extent. It is evident that the adjustment of the set screw 64 regulates the distance through which the shaft 49 is turned upon each depression of the spring shoe 58. On tracks where the traiiic is heavy, it is apparent that a very slight rocking movement of the drum 53 is required for maintaining a con stant supply of lubricant to the rail head I2, and to the flanges I4 of the various wheels which pass over this particular section of track. The higher the normal position of rest of the spring shoe 58, the greater will be the amplitude of reciprocation of thevdrum 53, and consequently the greater will be the distance through which the shaft 49 is turned.

Mounted upon the shaft 49, outwardly of the ratchet wheel and the reciprocating drum 53, is

a cover or cap 66 which carries a marginal inwardly extending flange adapted to overlap the outer end of the drum 53 for closing it and protecting the ratchet mechanism therein.

The reciprocating drum 53 may be provided with a radial oil channel leading downwardly I"from the upper portion thereof and closed by a removable plug 61.

The bearing portion 52 of the side plate I5 is provided with a circumferential oil groove and a radial opening leading therefrom to the shaft 49 so as to lubricate the shaft in the bearing and the reciprocating drum 53 on the outer side of the bearing.

The inner end of the shaft 49 is flanged or headed, as at 'I0 and is counter-sunk in the inner face of the plate I5 to hold the shaft from move ing outwardly. The outer end of the shaft 49 is braced and supported by means of a bracket 1I, the opposite ends of which are clamped beneath the heads of the bolts Il while the intermediate portion of the bracket 'II is arched outwardly about the cap 66 and is depressed downwardly to provide the lower part of a bearing in which is supported the outer end of the shaft 49. A strap or cap piece 'I2 is arched upwardly and engages over the upper side of the shaft 49 to complete the bearing and house the shaft. The cap piece 'I2 is provided with a friction or brake-lining 'I3 which bears upon the shaft and frictionally and yieldingly holds the shaft against turning. The cap piece 'I2 is. secured to the bracket 'II by bolts 'I4 which extend downwardly through the cap piece and the bracket and are provided with tension springs 'I5 normally and yieldingly binding the cap piece upon the shaft. This combined brake and support is adapted not only to brace the shaft against vibration but to also hold it against retrograde movement incident to the return movement of the rocking drum 53.

In operation, when a wheel I3 passes over and depresses the spring shoe 58, the link 56 moves downward and turns the drum 53 in an anticlockwise direction, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This downward movement of the link 56 is preferably the power stroke because the mechanism is actuated to force the grease through the system, and the operation is effected under influence of the weightcarried by the wheel I3. During this downward stroke, the ratchets 6I interlock with the ratchet wheel 63 and carry the latter f with them so that the shaft 49 is turned through a predetermined distance controlled by the initially high position of the spring shoe 58.

After the wheel I3 passes beyond the spring shoe 58 and releases it, the inherent resiliency of the spring shoe 58 raises the intermediate portion thereof, pulls upwardly on the link 56 and turns the drum 53 back to its initial position of rest. During this return movement the ratchets 6I merely slip over the teeth of the ratchet CTI wheel 63 so that the shaft 49 is not turned backwardly.

The friction brake 12 holds the shaft 49 from turning backwardly during the return movement of the ratchets 6l so that the shaft 49 is intermittently moved in a forward direction only and no lost motion may occur between the rocking drum with its ratchets 6| and the shaft 49 and the parts connected thereto.

Thus, the shaft 19 is intermittently turned in one direction by the passage of Wheels I3 over the particular section of the rail.

The shaft 3Q turns the shaft 31, and the latter turns the worm 36 which transmits this motion to the worm wheel 35 and the feed screw 3D. The feed screw 38 drives the follower 3| toward the outer end of the tank 21 and forces the grease forward in the tank and outwardly through the nozzle or cover plate 28 and into the pipe or conduit 2S under considerable pressure. The grease passing through the conduit 26 enters the supply pipe 2Q and is delivered therefrom into the 'chamber I8 of the feed plate I6. The grease under pressure in the chamber i8 is forced outwardly through the distributing grooves 26 of the plate I9 to the side of the head l2 of the rail, the grease also being forced outwardly through the openings 2l to an extent sufficient to be picked up by the flanges i4 of the wheels passing over the rail. As the wheels I3 of the rolling stock are of different dimensions or diameters, it is apparent that the different wheels will carry and deposit the grease upon and at different points spaced along the side with the rail head I2, and will gradually spread or evenly distribute the grease over the side of the rail head at the grooves and along other portions of the rail desired to be lubricated.

When it is desired to refill the tank 21, it is only necessary to swing the hand lever 42 outwardly and downwardly with the result that the should-er 45 releases the bracket 38 and the lifting pin l1 swings the bracket upwardly a distance suicient to disengage the worm 36 from the Worm wheel 35. The crank handle 34 may now be turned to reverse the rotation of the feed screw 3@ and move the piston or follower 3l backwardly in the tank 21 first by the spring 32 and then by the feed screw 3i) until the follower reaches the inner end of the tank. The nozzle plate 28 is removed and grease to the desired quantity is placed in the forward end of the tank.

When the tank is embedded in vertical position in the ground, as shown in Fig. 6, the end of the tank uppermost, or the forward end of the tank, is provid-ed with the cone-shape cover plate 2S adapted to be removed for placing grease or lubricant in the tank when the piston nas been,

lowered to the desired extent.

As soon as the tank has been lled, the hand lever 42 may be swung backwardly into locking position when the shoulder 45 rides over the curved end of the lug ll and forces the bracket 38 back into proper position for interlocking the feed screw 3! with the shaft 31.

It is obvious that various changes and modincations may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims:

What is claimed is:

l. A rail tread and wheel ange lubricator, comprising a distributing member, means for securing the distributing member against one side of a rail, a depressible element, means for securing the depressible element at the other side of the rail, a shaft, lubricant feeding means connected to the shaft for operation thereby and connected to said distributing member for supplying grease thereto, one way connecting means between said depressible member and said shaft for turning the latter in one direction when said member is depressed, and a combined brace and brake for said shaft to hold the latter from retrograde movement during the return of the depressible member to normal position.

2. A rail tread and wheel flange lubricator, comprising a delivery member for engagement against one side of a rail and having means for supplying the lubricant to the side of the head of the rail for application to the flanges of wheels passing over the rail, a tank for lubricant, a flexible connection between the tank and the delivery member, a piston in the tank for supplying the lubricant under pressure from the tank to the delivery member, a shaft in the tank threaded to said piston, a worm wheel on the shaft, a drive shaft, a worm shaft universally mounted upon the drive shaft, a worm on the worm shaft means for detachably holding the worm in intermeshing engagement with the worm whe-el, and a depressible member connected to the drive shaft and adapted to be disposed at the side of the rail opposite from the delivery member and in the path of wheels passing over the rail to operate the drive shaft.

3. A rail tread and wheel flange lubricator, comprising a delivery member adapted to be placed against one side of a rail, a lubricant supply tank connected to the delivery member, a piston in the tank, a threaded shaft connected to the piston, a drive shaft connected to the threaded shaft, a ratchet wheel secured to the drive shaft, a bearing for the drive shaft adapted to be mounted at the other side of the rail from the delivery member, a reciprocating drum mounted on the bearing and having ratchets for interlocking engagement with the ratchet wheel upon the movement of the drum in one direction, a treadle spring mounted at the said other side of the rail over the bearing and bowed upwardly thereover for engagement with wheels passing over the rail, and a connection between said drum and said spring for reciprocating the drum upon the flexing of the spring.

4. A rail tread and wheel flange lubricator, comprising a delivery member adapted to be placed against one side of a rail, a lubricant supply tank connected to the delivery member, a piston in the tank, a threaded shaft connected to the piston, a drive shaft connected t the threaded shaft, a ratchet wheel secured tol the drive shaft, a bearing for the drive shaft adapted to be mounted at the other side of the rail opposite to the delivery member, a reciprocating drum mounted on the bearing and having ratchets for interlocking engagement with the ratchet wheel upon the movement of the drum in one direction, a treadle spring mounted at the said other side of the rail over the bearing and bowed upwardly for engagement with wheels passing over the rail, a connection between said drum and said spring for reciprocating the drum upon the exing of the spring, and an adustable stop means for said drum to limit the turning of the same when said treadle spring flexes upwardly to limit the amplitude of movement of the drum.

5. A rail tread and wheel ange lubricator, comprising a delivery member adapted to be placed against one side of a rail, a lubricant supply tank connected to the delivery member, a piston in the tank, a threaded shaft connected to the piston, a drive shaft connected to the threaded shaft, a ratchet wheel secured to the drive shaft, a bearing for the drive shaft adapted to be mounted at the opposite side of a rail from the delivery member, a reciprocating drum mounted on the bearing and having ratchets for interlocking engagement with the ratchet wheel upon the movement of the drum in one direction, a treadle spring mounted at the said opposite side of the rail over the bearing and bowed upwardly thereover for engagement with wheels passing over the rail, and a connection between said drum and said spring for reciprocating the drum upon the flexing of the spring, said drum having a lug projecting from one side thereof to move downwardly upon the upward flexing of the treadle spring, and a set screw mounted at the side of the rail beneath said lug for adjustment to engage the lug and limit the downward movement thereof and the consequent upward iiexing of the treadle spring.

6. A rail tread and Wheel iiange lubricator comprising a delivery member having a lubricant storing chamber recess in its outer side, means for securing said member against the side of a rail substantially flush with the side of the rail head, a distributing plate secured against the outer side of the delivery member for closing said chamber and extending above the delivery member for engagement against the adjacent side of the rail, said distributing plate having grooves on its inner side extending upwardly from said chamber through the upper edge of the plate, said grooves being closed against said delivery member and the rail head and said distributing plate having notches in its upper edge for distributing lubricant outwardly of the plate into the path of the flanges of wheels passing over the rail head.

7. A rail tread and wheel flange lubricator comprising a delivery member having an opening in its outer side providing a chamber for lubricant, means for securing said delivery member against the side of a rail substantially flush with the rail head, a distributing plate fitted against the outer side of the delivery member for closing said chamber, clamping means slidably engaging said distributing plate to hold the same at the desired height against the delivery member and with its upper end against the side of the rail head, said distributing plate having upwardly extending grooves on its inner side leading from said chamber of the delivery member through the upper edge of the plate, said grooves being closed against the fdelivery member and the rail head and said plate having cross grooves between said rst grooves disposed in the zone of said chamber to equalize the distribution of a lubricant under pressure from the chamber through the said iirst grooves, said plate having notches in its upper edge in register with said first grooves for feeding a lubricant to the outer side of said plate for contact with the flanges of wheels passing over the rail head.

8. A rail tread and wheel flange lubricator, comprising a delivery member having a recess in its outer side providing a lubricant chamber, means for securing the delivery member against the side of a rail substantially ush with a rail head, a clamping plate, bolts carried by the clamping plate and extending into the delivery member, a lubricant feeding nozzle carried by the clamping plate and opening therethrough into the said chamber, and a distributing plate disposed between the delivery member and the clamping plate and having vertically elongated slots for the reception of said bolts therethrough and having an elongated feed opening therethrough in register with the nozzle to admit vertical adjustment of the distributing plate between the delivery member and the clamping plate and the uninterrupted feeding of the lubricant through the distributing plate into said chamber, said distributing plate having at its inner side adjacent the delivery member a plurality of upwardly extending grooves leading from said chamber to the side of the rail head and closed against said rail head, said distributing plate having notches in its upper end in register with said grooves to admit passage of lubricant to the outer side of the distributing plate into the path of flanges of wheels passing over the rail head.

CHARLES STERN.

DE LANCEY W. DAVIS. HENRY C. GILLESPIE. 

